Three Dallas-area women struggling with transportation issues received beautifully refurbished vehicles through the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
Presented at this year’s NABC Lone Star Changing and Saving Lives Golf Fundraiser, held May 1 at Bear Creek Golf Club in Dallas, the donations were made possible by vehicle donors Allstate, Farmers and Travelers and collision repair centers Crash Champions, Grand Prairie Ford and Trophy Nissan Collision.
The annual golf fundraiser raises money to support the NABC Recycled Rides program, which provides refurbished vehicles to individuals in need and organizations that serve them, and delivers life-saving vehicle rescue education for first responders through the NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) program.
The three recipients of the vehicles were all nominated by the Gatehouse, a nonprofit agency that assists single mothers in the DFW area.
Travelers and Trophy Nissan presented a 2019 Nissan Sentra S to Anna Garcia, a single mom and school counselor recovering from debt and other hardships. Garcia’s life has been defined by resilience, determination and an unwavering commitment to helping others. She has a master’s degree in social work and is using that training to help others in recovery from trauma and abuse. Garcia needs a dependable vehicle to commute to work, take her daughter to swim lessons and soccer games, and continue her journey toward financial freedom.
Brittany McNutt, a single mom working full-time who is committed to becoming self-sufficient, received a 2022 Buick Encore, donated by Farmers and refurbished by Crash Champions. McNutt has overcome significant hardships in her life to the point that she has a stable career and was recently promoted in her job. The NABC Recycled Rides vehicle will replace an unreliable vehicle and will provide safe travel for McNutt and her child.
Allstate and Grand Prairie Ford presented a 2021 Kia Sportage to Dominique Lowe, a single mother who is working to complete her master's degree. Her current vehicle has left this family of four stranded more than once. All three of Lowe’s children are active in sports and other extracurriculars, and the donated vehicle will help ensure she can get to her job and her classes, and the children can participate in all their activities.
Allstate, Farmers and Travelers are all Level One members and longtime supporters of the NABC.
Crash Champions, also a Level One member, has grown to include more than 650 locations in 38 states. All Crash Champions locations are I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
Grand Prairie Ford and Trophy Nissan are part of the Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Group, a longtime NABC member, and are I-CAR Gold certified collision repair centers.
NABC Recycled Rides is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 million.
Additional partners in the presentation included 3M, PPG, English Color, Dent Dimensions, Big Bass Towing, PDR Linx, AutoNation Chevrolet NRH, AutoZone, Hudson’s Mobile Glass Service, Keystone Automotive, Wheel Technologies, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
Golf Tournament Winners Recognized
The NABC announced the winners of the NABC Lone Star Changing and Saving Lives Golf Fundraiser. The event featured a four-person scramble and awards reception, in addition to the Recycled Rides presentation.
The winners were:
1st Place (-21 under 51)
• Billy Thomas, Trophy Nissan
• Kevin Nance, Trophy Nissan
• Brian Fratar, Trophy Nissan
• Kevin Shutter, Trophy Nissan
2nd Place (-20 under 52 in a scorecard playoff)
• Gene Kozash, Berkshire Hathaway Automotive
• Darren Huggins, Berkshire Hathaway Automotive
• Paul Grant, retired
• Scott Grant, Caliber
3rd Place (-20 under 52)
• Chad Mitchell, Caliber
• Raymond Smith, Caliber
• Brent Gilby, Caliber
• Rick Rodman, Caliber
Other awards included:
• Men’s LD: Zach Huggins
• Women’s LD: Cori McCarthy
• CTP #5: Raymond Smith
• CTP #17: Don Porter
In 2025, all golf events are held through the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, making sponsorship and golf donations tax-deductible for companies and participants.
